Trump effect unknown in tight Austrian presidential election

Associated Press

Published 12:50 pm, Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Photo: Ronald Zak, Associated Press

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FILE - In this May 20, 2016 file photo Norbert Hofer candidate for presidential elections of Austria's Freedom Party, FPOE, and Heinz-Christian Strache, from left, head of Austria's Freedom Party, FPOE, look out at supporters during the final election campaign event in Vienna. Austrians are choosing Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 between a moderate and a populist for president _ and both candidates are hoping to exploit the Trump effect in the first European Union nation facing such a choice since the U.S election. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file) less

VIENNA — Austrians are choosing Sunday between a moderate and a populist for president — and both candidates are hoping to exploit the Trump effect in the first European Union nation facing such a choice since the U.S. election.

Surveys show most Austrians think that populist Norbert Hofer stands to benefit to the detriment of left-leaning candidate Alexander Van der Bellen in the Dec. 4 vote. Whoever wins, the election has significance beyond who will claim the largely ceremonial post.

How the Trump bump plays out here could be a barometer of its resonance in other countries with upcoming national elections that also feature strong populist and euroskeptic contenders inspired by the U.S. billionaire’s triumph in the U.S. presidential election.

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has welcomed the Trump victory as a “sign of hope,” while xenophobe Geert Wilders, who hopes to become prime minister in the Netherlands, has hailed the Trump “revolution.”

At his hate-speech trial, Wilders described Trump’s victory as the start of a movement “making short shrift of the politically correct doctrines of the elite and their subordinate media.”

“It’s about to be proven in Austria,” he added.

Van der Bellen won the vote earlier this year. But it is being rerun by a court order on claims by Hofer’s Freedom Party of major irregularities, and with Trump’s victory still fresh in the minds of Austria’s electorate both candidates hope to benefit.

Van der Bellen says he hopes that Trump’s triumph will serve as a “wake-up call” to vote for him and against Hofer.

Hofer, whose support ranges from voters disaffected with the political establishment to the neo-Nazi fringe, greeted the U.S. election result as a victory for democracy, blasting opponents who “wildly berate” Trump.

Potential voters on the streets of Vienna, however, say the “Trump effect” could cut both ways.

“I would think it helps Hofer,” said Fanny Holzer, 19, who supports Van der Bellen. “On the other hand, if you consider the nonsense that Trump could do, then maybe Van der Bellen.”

Others said the U.S. election result has not affected whom they will vote for.

“I remain with the choice I made originally,” said Leo Ebner, 67. “America is a good distance away from Austria.”

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